Spring Hat Time...

Devon is 3, going on 30, and tommorrow is Spring Hat day at school for him. Every year we need to make a spring hat for him to display and parade in his class. Last year was the first time we had to take part... and we managed to be the best! We got the prize for the best spring hat. So in a way the pressure is on this year.

So we set off for the shops yesterday in search of ideas and materials to make "The Hat". I think this years effort is pretty good, but not a winning one. So off he'll go to school tomorrow and proudly display his hat with the rest of his mates, and we'll be wondering, with the rest of the parents, how we have faired this year.

Sitting with Adam...

Adam is five and a half months old now and and this week he began to start sitting by himself. He absolutely loves to be upright and play with his toys.

The main reason for posting this is so the family in the Cape can keep up on how the family and little ones are doing. He is such a happy little button!

Prediction results...

The weekend is over and that means a result review. Not a good prediction week!!!! Check this out...

Total Predictions: 12
Total Right: 4
Total Wrong: 8

Right
Sharks beat Cavaliers
Bulls beat WP
Arsenal beat Newcastle
Middlesbrough beat Stoke

Wrong
South Africa beat Australia :-) (Tri- Nations)
Aston Villa drew with Liverpool
Man City beat Sunderland
Spurs drew with Chelsea :-)
West Ham beat Blackburn
Wigan beat Hull
Portsmouth beat Everton
Bolton drew with West Brom

So we can't have good weeks all the time. Check out next weeks...

Entrepreneur or Blackmarket Material?

I'm in the education profession. I never thought that I would blog about one of my pupils or a work situaion, but today changed that.

I'm busy in class teaching a group of 12 year olds (Grade 6's), and three other children get brought to me for writing on their black school shoes with tipex. So we have all done this before at some stage I'm sure. nothing unusual. So I reprimand the three concerned and send them on their way. The class I am busy teaching brings to my attention that one of the learners in the class has done written on his shoes as well. So I call for the boy to come to my desk.

True as nuts he has written his initials on his shoe. Still nothing unusual... so I reprimand as before and am just about to send the boy on his way when I notice something unusual. I look a liitle closer...braving the risk of a cheesy smelly foot I ask the boy to remove his shoe for closer inspection.

This young chap has taken the trouble time and effort to unpick the stitching on the side of his school shoe, and sow in a little LEVI label. This is something that I have never come across before.

So comes from a academically talented individual, who is one of the naughtiest boys I have come across. He never has his books or stationery at school, his schoolbag is never big enough for all of his books so some of them have to stay at home, he never does homework or anything exra.

Is he showing signs of his future entrepreneurial skills and creativity or is he showing signs of a future in retail on the blackmarket? I'll let you decide....

Tagged!!!!

So I'm not so techno savvy as the rest of my blogging family. I get this message on my blog to say I've been tagged- so I get ready to wrestle, WWF style. (Just kidding I'm not that bad!)

Tagged, what the .... So I contact the person that tagged me, Hayley, to find out a little more.
"Oh it's a fun thing..." she say's. I have no problem with this. I can do this. Basically all I need to do is share six things about Millers mind that nobody knows. A breeze! Then comes step two, tag six other people on my blog. HELL, I can't do that. I only know two other people that blog, and they are the two family members that read my blog, and besides, one has tagged me. I can't really go and tag her back! So I'm in a bit of a blogging bind.

I'll give it some thought though and I will share six things about Miller that you don't know.

Prediction results...

Another week down, and true to form, just under 50% right.

Total Predictions: 13
Total Right: 6
Total Wrong: 7

Right
Australia beat South Africa (Tri Nations)
Griquas beat Valke (Currie Cup)
Liverpool beat Middlesbrough
Everton beat West Brom
Chelsea beat Wigan
Man Utd beat Portsmouth

Wrong
Cheetahs beat Lions (Currie Cup)
Sunderland beat Spurs
Blackburn and Hull drew
Bolton beat Newcastle
Stoke beat Aston Villa
Fulham beat Arsenal
Man City beat West Ham

Another week is around the corner...

Mountain Removal

Operation 'Mountain removal" is nearing the end. All I have left in my backyard is a hill. It's still a hell of a lot of sand but hey, nowhere near the flippin mountain I started with.

So after wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of sand being carted around my yard I now have biceps pretty similar to the fellow in the pic.

Okay, maybe not so big but it feels like they have done enough work to look like that.

I got a chance to jump on the trampoline, hey what a way to work out. I was nackered after about five minutes of jumping. maybe it was about two minutes but it definitely felt like five. it must of been five! My heart was racing my legs felt like jelly and my abs, well lets just say they also had their years share of exercise in those FIVE minutes. If I continue to jump at this rate and workout like this maybe I can have some of these abs.

The only problem is I don't think I'll be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning. All this exercise and hard work tends to make one pretty stiff. This I don't mind, as the saying goes no pain, no gain! So the stiffness is not the problem . The problem is he flip'n back. My back feels like a back I have borrowed from a 90 year old with acute arthritis. If I do manage to get out of bed tomorrow, I'll proberly end up walking around like this fellow...

The Wheel Barrow.. Part 2

The blasted thing is still not to be found! Not even at Kirst and Mike's house! (Sorry little Tom!)

But anyway I guess I better move on from here, and continues with operation 'Mountain Removal'. This will be made possible as i have acquired a loan barrow from my Father-in-law. Thanks Dad.

I wish I had the seven little dwarfs to help, but I don't. Hold on I have a couple of mates that will do anything for a free beer!

Hope everyone has a good weekend, and remember if you have nothing to do, come over and help move the mountain.

The Wheel Barrow

The trampoline is in and operation 'Mountain Removal' needs to be put into action. the kids are jumping, arguing about whose turn it is, jumping some more ... (I'm sure you get the picture).
I head inside and change out of my work clothes and put on my garden kit, as soil mountain is going to be moved.

Armed with a spade and rake I head off to scatter the soil over the lawn as the Spring rains should be upon us shortly, not taking the climate changes that are taking place or the ever increasing hole in the ozone layer into account. I get stuck in. raking and shoveling, and all is going well. The next step is to put the soil into the wheel barrow, which I received as a Christmas present and which is still in showroom condition ( I haven't used it yet - the plastic is still on the handles).

I go to it's parking bay and low and behold it's not there! A search is ensued... by all in the household. How hard can it be to find a big green wheel barrow in my garden, and I'm not talking acres of garden either. High and low, under, over, inside and out. The wheel barrow is nowhere to be found. Someone has nicked the bloody thing!!! My brand spanking new, never been used before wheel barrow - NICKED!

I hope the wheel falls off, the bucket rusts through and the person who nicked it arms fall off while trying to carry out a task with MY wheel barrow!

Needless to say, I still have Soil Mountain in my backyard.

Jumping for Joy

How spoilt are the kids? As we have birthdays coming up in house (Kyle and Devon), the kids have been given a trampoline as a combined gift, thanks to Granny and Grampa. The kids were not aware that today was installation day. At around 10am today the team arrived to put in the trampoline. The kids were both at school and oblivious to what was going on. By the time they arrived home, the trampoline was in and ready for its first test drive.

I was not home at the time, but I hear that there was much joy and excitement. I think for the next while a timer of sorts is needed to control whose turn it is to jump. The Olympics is on at the moment and Devon watched the Woman's Trampoline Final last night. All he wants Kyle to do are those turns and twists that he saw on TV. Not to mention jump HIGH.

I can see that the trampoline is going to be winner!

So while the kids jump away I'll be cleaning up the mountain of soil left behind by the installers.

Adam's Special Day

Today was one of the most wonderful days in ones life. A proud moment for any parent who wants the best for their children. It was Adam's Baptism.

This is ADAM MARK LACY as he was introduced to the congregation at Northfield Methodist Church.







Here I am with my God Parents, Hayley and Francois. They flew up from Cape Town to spend my special day with me. Thank you!

The service was really special and we were so Blessed to have the Rev. Trevor Hudson baptise Adam.

Welcome into the family of God, Adam.
May God Bless and keep you!

Prediction Results

Another weekend is over and it's time to take a look at how the predictions went. As the Premier League has started in the UK this weekend and involves a number of predictions, this regular post will take on a new look from now on. So here it goes.

Total Predictions: 12

Number Right: 6

Number Wrong: 6

RIGHT
Bulls beat Griquas
Arsenal beat West Brom
Bolton beat Stoke
West Ham beat Wigan
Liverpool beat Sunderland
Chelsea beat Portsmouth

WRONG
NZ beat SA
Hull beat Fulham
Blackburn beat Everton
Middlesbrough beat Spurs
Aston Villa beat Man City
Man Utd and Newcastle drew

50% for the weekend! Tune in to see how it goes next week.

Prediction results

Sorry this one took some time to post. I haven't had much time to get behind the PC this week. But here are those long awaited results:

Currie Cup

Sharks to beat WP. That they did. It was more like a hammering! Result - RIGHT

Bulls to beat the Lions. Me of little faith. The Lions were roaring like never before. Thank goodness the game was not 5 minutes longer though. Result - WRONG

Cheetahs to beat Griquas. A given. Result - RIGHT

Cavaliers to beat the Valke. A tough one to call. The scoreline would agree. Result - RIGHT

Community Shield

Man United to beat Portsmouth. Got to go with the defending league champions. Went to penalties in the end. Result - RIGHT

If you didn't know me you would think I was a pro at this prediction thing. Don't worry, the going is good. It won't last long though. I'm excited about the start of the Premiership Football League starting this weekend. Now you will see just how wrong I can be...

The Kruger Weekend

So the reason for going to the Kruger for the weekend was the Castle Lager Kruger Park Half Marathon. What an awesome race it turned out to be. At the start line I found out the route was a new one this year. It turned out to be the best one I've run yet. Far more running in the Park. We managed to spot some hippo, rhino and ellie on the run. It is the type of race you run and not race. Unfortunately my mate Tim who normally joins me for the run was not able to come along due to his daughter falling ill. Tim you would of loved this one. But I have added a picture of the club members I had the pleasure of running this awesome event with. They are from left to right: Con Roux, Robert Brons, Kirsty Roux, Miller and Clive (Dad). The race gave you an opportunity to see how the money is being spent buy the parks board. A good job is being done - money well spent, I think.

So camping with the boys was the other reason for going to the park, or an added extra if you like. Both my older boys enjoy the outdoors, so camping is a treat.

So Devon appointed himself as the official spotter of the weekend. On the lookout for whatever game was out there. Armed with his binocs he discovered the sunroof! He did a pretty good job with the sightings, spotting elephant, giraffe and buffalo amongst a million impala. Good job boy! Kyle managed a couple of good sightings.


A Kruger visit would not be the same without the sighting of a Lion. We came across this boy on the Sunday morning before heading off to break camp. We had heard him in the early hours of the morning, roaring.


We were very fortunate to come across a baby rhino with his Mom heading to a watering hole for a quick sip. A bushveld sunrise and sunset.








I also forgot to mention that I came across the biggest caterpillar I have ever seen in the Park. Such a sighting is rather rare!








Thank you Mom and Dad for making this happen for the boys and I, and a special thanks to my wife, Lindsay for looking after Adam while I get to enjoy the pleasures of the bushveld. I look forward to doing it all over again next year, but this time with all members of the clan with me!

What on Earth Happened????

So I made a couple of predictions this past weekend. 6 to be exact. I was away for the weekend doing the Kruger half marathon (which was awesome by the way) and did not follow or manage to get all the results till late on Sunday evening. I managed to get some right - 6 to be exact! Thats right, a FULL HOUSE!!! What on Earth Happened????

So here are the results to my predictions if you perhaps missed them.

Tri - Nations
Nz to beat the Aussies. They totally outplayed them by the looks of things or if you go by the score line. Result - RIGHT

Currie Cup
Bulls to beat the Valke. The Bulls were always going to be to strong for the Valke at home. Result - RIGHT
Sharks to beat the Griquas. Not too hard to pick. Sharks just a certain winner here. Result - RIGHT
Cheetahs to beat the Cavaliers. Once again a certainty . the defending champions at home would prove to be way to strong for the visitors. Result - RIGHT
Lions to beat WP. You have to admit that if one was going to get away this weekend it would have to be this one. The Lions are starting to put together a string of well deserved and well earned, overdue wins. Keep it up boys! Result - RIGHT

Cricket
SA to beat England. A fine performance from our captain (SMITHY) led to a first series win in England in 43 years. Well Done boys. Nail the coffin closed in the final test. This would start KP test captain career off to a cracking start. Result - RIGHT

So that's it for the past weekend. Don't go holding your breath for it to be repeated again this weekend.